Blog

Nov 05, 2024

The 4 Best Smart Plugs of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Kathryn Rath Kathryn Rath is a writer covering audio, video, and smart-home gear. We’ve added the TRETAKT smart plug and the Govee Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring to What to look forward to. One

By Kathryn Rath

Kathryn Rath is a writer covering audio, video, and smart-home gear.

We’ve added the TRETAKT smart plug and the Govee Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring to What to look forward to.

One fundamental question has been the driving force behind innovation and technological advancement since time immemorial: “How can I do this without standing up?” That’s the beauty of smart plugs. Smart plugs offer the easiest way to turn your “dumb” devices into automated sci-fi gadgets, allowing you to power any on/off device by using an app, by scheduling it, or by using voice commands.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) is the best smart plug for indoor use, as it provides the most features for the best price. The TP-Link Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug (or the identical P400M) is our outdoor pick thanks to its rugged IP rating. The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is our pick for a multi-plug option because of its versatility.

This smart plug worked reliably in tests, and it includes real-time energy monitoring and an Away Mode. Also, it’s widely compatible with all the major smart-home platforms.

This outdoor smart plug features a robust IP65 weather-resistance rating and independently controllable dual outlets, and it can track device running time.

This model turns one outlet into six independently controlled smart ones, with built-in energy monitoring and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home (but not Apple Home). It also has three USB ports.

The tiny EP10 is cheap and easy to use, and it has impressive features for its size. However, it isn’t Apple Home compatible.

Smart plugs that use Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread instead of Wi-Fi require a separate hub, and not every plug communicates with every platform.

Most smart plugs are rated for 15 amps of current, for use with low-power on/off devices such as lamps and fans.

Unless a smart plug is labeled specifically for outdoor use, you should use it only indoors. Outdoor models have weatherproofing to prevent shocks and short circuits.

Energy monitoring, sunrise/sunset scheduling, and Away Mode are great to have, but not everyone needs them.

This smart plug worked reliably in tests, and it includes real-time energy monitoring and an Away Mode. Also, it’s widely compatible with all the major smart-home platforms.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) offers the most robust features for the price, such as energy monitoring, sunrise/sunset scheduling, and an Away Mode. In my tests it was quick to integrate with all major smart-home platforms and a breeze to set up and use with the Tapo app (or the Kasa app, though we recommend the former), where all of its functions were readily accessible.

Along with expected smart-plug functions such as remote access and voice control through a smart speaker or hub, it supports real-time energy monitoring shown in watts and kilowatt-hours (or hours and minutes) so you can keep tabs on electricity use. It’s available only in a two-pack and a four-pack, but the price per unit is about the same or even lower than that of other smart plugs we like.

Advertisement

This outdoor smart plug features a robust IP65 weather-resistance rating and independently controllable dual outlets, and it can track device running time.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, Samsung SmartThings

Outdoor smart plugs bring comparatively more considerations: You have to use a covered outlet, you should mount it at a specific height above the ground, and operating temperatures and IP ratings for resistance to water and dust play a role. The TP-Link Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug (and the identical Amazon-exclusive TP-Link Tapo P400M) is built for the outdoors, with a weather-resistant IP65 rating and an operating-temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Features such as Schedules, Away Mode, and sunrise/sunset Routines were painless to set up, and the independently controllable dual outlets responded quickly to commands from third-party integrations via Matter. (If you don’t like Matter or don’t have a compatible hub, we still recommend the TP-Link Kasa EP40A.) It also tracks the run time of devices you plug into it, in hours and minutes.

This model turns one outlet into six independently controlled smart ones, with built-in energy monitoring and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home (but not Apple Home). It also has three USB ports.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

Of the smart power strips I tested, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) is the most well built, and it includes three USB-A charging ports. Its 38-inch power cord opens up its placement options, and it has all of the bells and whistles—energy monitoring, sunrise/sunset scheduling, and an Away Mode—of our single-outlet pick.

That said, this power strip doesn’t have Apple Home compatibility, and the USB ports aren’t controllable. If you don’t mind a model with fewer outlets and no physical-button controls, consider one of the other good smart plugs we found.

The tiny EP10 is cheap and easy to use, and it has impressive features for its size. However, it isn’t Apple Home compatible.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

If you need to put your smart plug in a tight space, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EP10) is the optimal choice. The EP10 provided quick setup with Alexa and Google Home. It’s also the smallest and least expensive of our picks and includes a surprising amount of features for its size, such as built-in usage monitoring and an Away Mode.

The EP10 makes some trade-offs: It isn’t compatible with Apple Home, and it doesn’t provide energy monitoring. Instead, it tracks a device’s run time in hours and minutes.

Advertisement

I’m an updates writer for the audio, video, and smart-home team. I’ve authored our guide to music streamers, contributed to the gear for a home theater roundup, and I currently have about 15 smart-home devices keeping my life on a stringent routine. I am running the three major smart-home platforms simultaneously, and I still don’t have a favorite (Alexa).

For this guide:

If you’ve ever been too tired to get out of bed to turn off a lamp, a smart plug may be for you. All it takes is a smartphone and an empty outlet, and you can use a smart plug to control, schedule, and automate most on/off appliances such as lamps, holiday lights, fans, air purifiers, and TVs. Smart plugs are a great option for smart-home newbies and enthusiasts alike due to their ease of setup, affordable price, and range of features. And smart plugs can be an especially useful tool for anyone with mobility and accessibility concerns.

The majority of smart plugs have a common set of features: remote access via a companion app or smart speaker and the ability to power on and off on a Schedule or Routine. For example, remote control over an outlet can stave off worries that appliances such as hair straighteners or space heaters were left on. In addition, if you or a loved one has mobility or dexterity issues, a smart plug can make it easier to control devices with a smart speaker or the sound of your voice.

Along with the base-level functions, smart plugs like our top picks include more advanced features, such as energy monitoring, which can assist in lowering your electric bill, or Away Mode, which can deter wrongdoers by randomly turning devices on and off to make it look as if someone is home.

That said, if you own your home or can change your outlets and want to make smart-plug features more permanent, consider in-wall smart outlets. Additionally, if you’re using your smart plug for a lamp or lights, keep in mind that not all of them have dimming capabilities. If that’s what you want, an in-wall light switch and dimmer for controlling lights or smart LED bulbs for more intricate lighting scenes would be a better option.

Advertisement

Our testing and top-pick criteria have evolved since we first published this guide in 2016. In my latest round of testing, I considered the following features to be essential for any smart-plug picks:

All of our picks include some form of energy monitoring or run-time tracking, measured in kilowatt-hours or hours and minutes. This feature can help you determine the costs of running a power-hungry device, but it isn’t a must-have for everyone.

In our latest round of testing, I compared indoor and outdoor smart plugs with either one or two outlets. I didn’t include any smart power strips (models with three or more outlets) but plan to for future updates. During testing, I paid attention to ease of setup with companion apps using an iPhone and an Android phone, as well as compatible third-party integrations, such as with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Home. I then tested applicable temporal functions, including timers, Routines, and Schedules via companion apps, smart-home platforms, and voice assistants. I also used Schedules to confirm whether features such as energy monitoring were accurate. For instance, I used the Tapo P110 to charge my Apple Watch for a two-hour time period for about two weeks—which resulted in a whopping 22¢ charge on my power bill, according to the app.

For indoor smart plugs, I used a miniature sky dancer, string lights, an Apple Watch charger, a plug-in air freshener, a fan, and a table lamp. I tested outdoor candidates with string lights and the sky dancer. In a previous round of testing, I tested the smart power strip models at a workstation that includes a monitor, a printer, a laptop charger, a standing desk, a walking pad, and a phone charger. I tested all of the smart plugs on an Amazon Echo Show 8, an Apple HomePod mini, and a Google Nest Hub.

All of our smart plug picks operate on the 2.4 GHz band. Before purchasing any smart device that operates over Wi-Fi, confirm that your router supports 2.4 GHz devices.

Privacy is a big concern with any device that’s connected via Wi-Fi. (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter have different encryption standards but require separate controllers or have limited device availability.) Once I narrowed down the candidates, I reviewed their makers’ respective privacy policies and sent a privacy and security questionnaire to the manufacturers.

I asked specific questions about each company’s security policies and practices, and how it handled device owners’ data. Among other things, such data handling includes login practices, support for two-factor authentication, what user data is encrypted, and what data is recorded and shared. We’ve recorded the results in the “Privacy and security snapshot” sections.

This smart plug worked reliably in tests, and it includes real-time energy monitoring and an Away Mode. Also, it’s widely compatible with all the major smart-home platforms.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) remains our pick for the best smart plug because it’s simple enough for smart-home novices but has features that enthusiasts will appreciate. It’s easy to set up and use remotely with all major smart-home platforms, and it responds quickly to voice commands and Routines or Schedules. In the Tapo app, energy-monitoring and run-time reports appear on the plug’s home screen, so you can track how long you use a device and how much power it consumes.

Setup is simple and intuitive. In our tests, the EP25 connected to the Tapo app in less than 30 seconds. The user manual doesn’t include much information in the way of troubleshooting, but if for some reason you encounter a problem with setup, the Tapo or Kasa app provides helpful tips along the way. The plug responded promptly to voice commands through Alexa, Google, and Siri, and I was able to disconnect the plug and move it from room to room without any issues.

This plug offers the best features at the lowest price. I found many smart plugs that had higher price tags but omitted half the features of the EP25. What’s even better about this plug is that it executed all of its functions without a hitch. I used the Schedule and sunrise/sunset function with our out-of-season Christmas tree (no judgy) to turn its string lights on and off. The timer feature was a big help in making sure a hair straightener wasn’t left on too long (a common and anxiety-inducing occurrence in my home), and setting the sky dancer to go off at 5 p.m. on a Friday to signal the end of the workweek was a particular joy. This plug also has an Away Mode, which switches devices on and off randomly to make it look as if someone is home; you need to set Away Mode either on a Schedule or on a manual one-time-only basis.

Energy monitoring could contribute to a lower electric bill. For energy-conscious folks, the EP25 includes energy monitoring in kilowatt-hours and run time on the device’s home screen in the Tapo app. In the Kasa app, you can find this information when you tap the device icon and then tap the Energy button in the lower-right corner. Both apps deliver stats in watts and kilowatt-hours (kWh), as well as the daily-average and total-consumption numbers for the past seven and 30 days.

If you’re concerned about energy usage from higher-wattage devices, this feature keeps tabs on just how much power they’re consuming. You can then set a Schedule to mitigate any problems. (Keep in mind, however, that you’re limited to plugging in devices that draw 15 amps or less.) If you want even more control over your electric bill, consider the Tapo P110, which can monitor energy usage in dollars and cents.

It’s compatible with all major smart-home platforms. Integrating this smart plug with Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home is effortless. You can set up the EP25 through an iOS or Android app or via Apple’s Home app, though you miss out on some features with the third option. In my experience, both Alexa and Google found the EP25 without prompting, and the Routines I created in the Tapo app were picked up immediately. Naming and grouping the plug in each ecosystem was also simple.

If you don’t use Apple Home, note that the EP25 may prompt you to set up with this platform first on an iPhone. You can bypass the Apple Home setup by following the prompts during the connection process. On the flip side, if you are using Apple’s Home app, the setup is slightly different; you can bypass TP-Link’s app, but then you miss out on a few features, most notably built-in energy monitoring and the ability to use the Away Mode.

You can use the Kasa app or Tapo app—but the Tapo app is better. By default, the EP25 prompts you to set it up in the Kasa app, but we recommend using the Tapo app instead. The two apps are from the same company, and both are intuitive to navigate, presenting all of the EP25’s functions within easy reach on one screen. But if you have other Tapo devices, you can’t integrate or group them in the Kasa app, whereas the Tapo app allows you to control devices from both brands equally. In addition, the Tapo app adds a Smart Actions widget, which includes automated presets for your devices. One nice touch: We found that when we added devices to the Kasa app first, they immediately populated in the Tapo app.

For further details, read TP-Link’s privacy policy. You can also access it in the Tapo app under the Me section by scrolling down to About and tapping Privacy Policy on the next page.

Advertisement

This outdoor smart plug features a robust IP65 weather-resistance rating and independently controllable dual outlets, and it can track device running time.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Matter, Samsung SmartThings

The TP-Link Tapo TP25 Outdoor Plug, also known as the P400M, is rugged enough to withstand most climates thanks to its IP65 weather-resistance rating and dual-outlet covers. This outdoor smart plug has more features than other models we tested, such as sunrise/sunset scheduling, an Away Mode, device run-time stats, and a sharing function. Quick to set up and easy to connect, the TP25/P400M is also compatible with all major smart-home platforms via Matter. If you find that adopting Matter is a finicky process, we still recommend the TP-Link Kasa Smart EP40A, our previous outdoor-plug pick.

It’s weather-proof. The IP65 weather-resistance rating of the TP25/P400M indicates that the plug is dustproof and suitable for damp or humid environments, as well as rain, wind, and snow. It also has an operating-temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. While the TP25/P400M is admittedly sturdy, it can’t be submerged in water, and TP-Link recommends mounting the plug outlet-side down, 1 foot above the ground.

As you should with any outdoor plug, always plug the TP25/P400M into an outdoor receptacle with a weatherproof box.

Even with two outlets and Matter, it’s uncomplicated. I haven’t always had the best luck with Matter in the past, but setup with Apple Home through Matter (via iOS devices only, not Android) was exponentially easier with the TP25/P400M. You can find and operate all of its features on its home screen in the Tapo app, and you can name and control each of its two outlets independently to avoid confusion about which device is plugged in where or to allow for easier voice commands. You can use the two physical buttons on top of the TP25/P400M for manual on and off; green LED lights indicate its power status.

It has more features than other outdoor models. The TP25/P400M includes a “sharing” function that allows more than one person with a TP-Link account to access and control the device. During tests, I was able to share the plug with senior staff writer Rachel Cericola, who was able to turn it on and off and create Schedules while sitting comfortably at home a few hundred miles away. (You can un-share access to a switch just as easily.) It tracks how long a device is used in hours and minutes on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, and it includes a timer, sunrise/sunset scheduling, and an Away Mode. We tested each of these functions and found both setup and execution to be flawless.

You may want to use your own mounting equipment. If you live in a particularly blustery area, the included mounting equipment (a cord holder and a screw) may not be sufficient. Outdoor smart plugs should always be mounted with the outlets facing downward and at least 1 foot above the ground, plugged into a covered outlet.

It tracks only device run time. Unfortunately the TP25/P400M can’t tell you how many kilowatt-hours your outdoor devices are using; instead it tracks only device run time, in hours and minutes. If you’re willing to do the math, you can figure out how much it costs to run a device, but otherwise this is not an especially useful feature.

Matter doesn’t always play nice, and it requires a compatible hub device. Although Matter worked for me, it has a reputation for being finicky. It also requires the use of a compatible hub, which acts as a traffic controller for your smart devices. Many popular plug-in smart devices already have a Matter hub built in, including smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, the Nest Hub, the HomePod Mini, and Eero routers.

If you don’t have other smart devices, or if you already rely on just one of the major smart-home platforms, you can simply skip Matter setup altogether.

For further details, read TP-Link’s privacy policy. You can also access it in the Tapo app under the Me section by scrolling down to About and tapping Privacy Policy on the next page.

This model turns one outlet into six independently controlled smart ones, with built-in energy monitoring and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Home (but not Apple Home). It also has three USB ports.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip (HS300) offers six independently controllable outlets and three USB ports. Its long power cord makes it suitable for tucking away in a variety of spots such as behind furniture or an entertainment console, and it’s a great option for anyone who wants to control multiple devices in one location. Scheduling and voice commands through smart speakers make it easy to control multiple devices at once with the HS300.

It has more outlets and USB ports than other smart power strips. You control all six outlets on the HS300, independently, via the Kasa app or the Tapo app (we prefer the latter). In those apps, as well as third-party apps such as for Alexa and Google, each outlet appears as an individual device, which lets you control them quickly instead of having to tap through menus to get to the one outlet you want.

You can rename and group the outlets too, which allows you to turn several devices on or off at once, and TP-Link makes that simple by putting a small physical label under each outlet. (You can also take pictures for plug icons in the Kasa app, but not in the Tapo app.) Naming plugs simplifies voice commands, allowing you to use natural language, and assists you in setting Schedules or Routines.

It offers more features than any other smart power strip we tested. This power strip has all of the same features as our top-pick plug. Every outlet supports energy monitoring, so you can peek at real-time power consumption based on readings from the embedded power-meter chipset, as well as daily, weekly, and monthly averages in kilowatt-hours. It also features timers, an Away Mode, and sunrise/sunset scheduling.

I hooked up the HS300 to a work-from-home station and set my laptop charger on a timer to aid in battery life. I also set a Schedule that turned off the entire workstation over the weekend. If you need to turn a device back on outside of previously scheduled times, the power strip has a physical button for each outlet.

It has impressive smart-home support. Alexa found the HS300 without prompting (and proceeded to list off all six of the new outlets it found before I had to tell it to pipe down). Similarly, the outlets populated immediately in Google Home. The power strip responded quickly to voice commands once I gave the outlets custom names, and grouping them as a unit was foolproof.

It doesn’t support Apple Home, and its USB ports aren’t smart. The biggest drawback of the HS300 is that it isn’t compatible with Apple Home. Plus, its USB ports don’t support remote control. If either of these features is a must-have for you, the Meross Smart Power Strip MSS425FHK is a good Apple Home alternative, and it has four controllable USB-A ports (you can control them as a group, not independently). However, it has only four outlets, no energy monitoring, and no physical buttons for manual shutoff.

It’s a power strip, not a surge protector. TP-Link claims that the HS300 is rated to reduce power spikes to 500 volts when exposed to a 6,000-volt surge in testing. However, for our surge-protector guide, the models we test are generally rated to drop surges to 400 volts or lower in the same situation. And in our own tests using 5,000-volt surges, our top surge-protector picks were able to reduce that even further, to under 200 volts. As a result, we don’t think anyone should depend on the HS300 for surge protection.

For further details, read TP-Link’s privacy policy. You can also access it in the Tapo app under the Me section by scrolling down to About and tapping Privacy Policy on the next page.

About three years ago, senior editor Christine Ryan installed the HS300 to replace a few Wemo plugs that were controlling lamps and an espresso machine. She has been pleased, but recently she had difficulty reconnecting the HS300 after changing her home Wi-Fi password. “I’ve looked all through the Kasa app, and there’s no place that I can find to update the password,” Christine said.

Unlike many smart-home device makers, Kasa doesn’t provide a way in the app to update a password after you’ve set up a device. Instead you need to do a complete factory reset of the device and then reinstall it from scratch; this isn’t ideal, but it also isn’t terribly complicated. For more, see Kasa’s full instructions.

Advertisement

The tiny EP10 is cheap and easy to use, and it has impressive features for its size. However, it isn’t Apple Home compatible.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

The tiny TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EP10) is almost identical to the TP-Link Kasa Smart EP25 in its features, though it does lack a few options that some buyers may want.

It’s simple, cheap, and small. The EP10 is truly mini: Measuring 2.36 by 1.5 by 1.21 inches, it fits easily in just about any tight space. The EP10 is sold only in packs of two or packs of four, but that means you can outfit devices throughout your home readily and affordably, and you don’t have to worry too much about the plugs being an obstruction.

In our tests, setup with the Kasa app and the Tapo app was straightforward. When I tried to place the plug in an area with spotty Wi-Fi, I had to do some troubleshooting, but the Tapo app walked me through it.

It’s pretty feature-packed for the price. If the EP10 included energy monitoring (instead it records device usage in hours and minutes by day, week, and month) and Apple Home compatibility, it would dethrone the EP25 as our top pick. It offers nearly all of the same features in a much smaller package, including sunrise/sunset scheduling, a timer, and an Away Mode.

It works with most smart-home platforms. I previously tested the EP10 with my aging Christmas tree—which I named, helpfully, “Christmas tree” in the app—and was able to use Alexa and Google voice commands to turn it on and off, as well as to create a sunset/sunrise Routine with it. Additionally, it was the first smart plug in my long-term testing roster to connect to my new Wi-Fi network and smart-home ecosystems without any trouble after I moved.

It has no love for Apple Home users. Like our power strip pick, the EP10 isn’t compatible with Apple Home. If you’re an Apple diehard, you may want to consider one of our other tiny Matter-enabled recommendations (like the Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini MSS115) if size is your main concern.

For further details, read TP-Link’s privacy policy. You can also access it in the Tapo app under the Me section by scrolling down to About and tapping Privacy Policy on the next page.

We tested a number of smart plugs that we didn’t prefer as picks but found to be perfectly fine choices to suit more specific situations.

If you want to buy only one plug at a time: The Meross Smart Plug Mini MSS110 is a good smart plug that’s compatible with all of the major smart-home platforms. We found our top pick to be easier to use, and this Meross model is also a bit bigger than we’d like. If you don’t care about Apple Home compatibility, the Roku Indoor Smart Plug SE and the Geeni Switch+Charge are simpler options (and the Geeni model includes two USB-A ports).

If you’re scrupulous about power consumption: The TP-Link Tapo P110 tracks how much power is being consumed and can calculate the cost in dollars and cents. After inputting how much my electric company was charging per kilowatt-hour (information that you should be able to find on your electric bill), I was able to track how much money it cost to charge my Apple Watch every day and found that it eventually added up to 22¢ on my power bill. Although this feature and the plug’s sharing capabilities are definitely neat, it’s compatible only with Alexa and Google, and it isn’t small enough to fit behind furniture. Otherwise, it has many of the same features as our top pick.

If Apple Home is your preferred ecosystem: Our current outdoor pick is compatible with Apple Home via Matter, but if you prefer integrating an outdoor plug the old-school way, we still recommend the TP-Link Kasa EP40A. It has a slightly lower weather-resistance rating of IP64 but is otherwise largely the same as the TP25/P400M. We seriously considered choosing the Meross Smart Power Strip MSS425FHK as a pick because it has nearly all of the same features as the HS300 but adds Apple Home compatibility and four controllable USB ports. The HS300 edged it out as our power strip pick, though, because this Meross model’s four outlets lack physical buttons, and it doesn’t include energy monitoring. In addition, the Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini MSS115 is compatible with Apple Home via Matter if you’re looking for something similar in size to the EP10. However, it is more expensive than our runner-up, and Matter setup isn’t always foolproof.

If you’re all in with Alexa or Ring: The Amazon Smart Plug, the Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip, and the Ring Outdoor Smart Plug worked fine in our tests. But their functionality limits them to people who are already committed to their respective ecosystems, and there are less pricey options.

If Matter matters: The TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim KP125M and the TP-Link Tapo Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug P125M worked decently, but they are more expensive than our top pick—and we actually found the non-Matter Kasa Smart EP25 to be easier to set up with all three major smart-home platforms. Plus, only the Kasa KP125M boasts energy monitoring.

If you’re interested in Thread wireless: The Eve Energy includes Thread and supports Matter, but we found that it wasn’t easy to set up with every smart-home platform, and Matter doesn’t support a few key features, such as energy monitoring. Also, a single plug costs as much as a four-pack of our top pick.

If you need an outdoor dimmer: The Meross Smart Outdoor Dimmer Plug MPD100 has a single outlet that can dim outdoor lighting. However, it has just one controllable outlet and a limited operating temperature of 14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Advertisement

We’ve tested many different smart plug models since this guide began in 2016, and we can’t list every competitor to date. Here are some of the most notable smart plugs that we’ve chosen to dismiss.

Array by Hampton Single Outlet Smart Plug: Unfortunately, the Array plug failed to function properly more than once during previous rounds of testing.

ConnectSense Smart Outlet2: This ConnectSense model has two outlets in one plug, but as a result the unit takes up the entire receptacle. Also, we didn’t find the user interface of the ConnectSense app to be as intuitive as that of our top picks’ apps.

Ezlo PlugHub: This model’s built-in internal Z-Wave hub makes it chunky and may explain why it’s currently $60. That would be fine, if it weren’t so difficult to use.

GE Cync Indoor Smart Plug: Our biggest problem with the GE Cync plug lies in its companion app. We ran into several problems when setting up an account and found its user interface difficult to navigate.

Geeni Smart Dot: We had connectivity issues with this Geeni model and ended up having to switch to manual pairing during testing. Overall, this tiny plug performed fine with the basics, but our runner-up pick offers better features and functionality.

Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plug-In Dimmer D23LP-2RW and Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plug-In Switch D215P-2RW: We were disappointed by the D23LP-2RW’s reaction times, which were quite slow. The timer for both units remains a permanent setting unless you manually change it, and the D215P-2RW lacks features that our top pick has but is almost triple the price.

Lutron Caséta Smart Lamp Dimmer: This Lutron dimmer is a good option for a whole-home lighting system, but its outlets aren’t independently controllable, and it works only with lamps.

Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug MSS315: Matter continues to present issues with setup at times, and the MSS315 was an unpleasant reminder of that. Although Meross provides detailed setup instructions by way of tutorial videos (hosted by an AI avatar straight from the uncanny valley), they still weren’t enough to guide us through the frustrating process of integrating the plug with Alexa or Apple Home. Eventually it was able to connect to Google and then to the other platforms—before un-adding itself the next day.

Satechi Dual Smart Outlet: This model packs two outlets into one plug and is small enough not to block the second outlet. However, it’s too expensive for the features it offers, and it’s compatible only with Apple Home.

Shelly Plus Plug US: Though this model was easy to control in our tests, the app is overly complex, and the plug itself is slightly bigger than we’d prefer.

Shelly Qubino Wave Plug US: This model requires a separate Z-Wave hub to function, which is fine if you already have your home outfitted with Z-Wave. However, its price is high, and factoring in an extra hub makes this choice uneconomical.

UltraPro 1-Outlet Wi-Fi Smart Plug: Instead of covering one outlet evenly, this UltraPro model juts out to one side, limiting its placement options. UltraPro also sells a two-outlet option, but we haven’t tested it.

U-tec Smart Plug: The U-tec Smart Plug is the first and only plug we’ve tested to include a child-lock feature that allows you to disable its physical button either manually or via the app. Although that feature is certainly unique, we didn’t think it was enough to outweigh the plug’s omission of functions such as an Away Mode, sunrise/sunset scheduling, and energy monitoring.

Wemo Smart Plug: This tiny plug offers the option to work over Thread, but it’s missing key features and is compatible only with Apple Home.

WiZ Smart Plug: This model performed well enough during testing, but we concluded that the Kasa Smart EP25 had better features and a more user-friendly app.

GE Cync Outdoor Smart Plug: We didn’t find the Cync app to be user friendly or intuitive, and it had issues with basic functions such as setting a Schedule.

GE Enbrighten Dual Outdoor Wi-Fi Smart Plug: We had setup and performance problems with this model, and the two outlets can’t be controlled individually.

Geeni Outdoor Duo and Geeni Outdoor Smart Plug: Curiously, Geeni’s indoor plugs have a better operating temperature range than their outdoor counterparts. Both the two-outlet Duo and the single-outlet outdoor models can withstand a range of 14 °F to 122 °F.

Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug: Setting up the Leviton Decora plug with Matter was shaky in our tests, though the plug worked well without Matter. It’s compatible with the Leviton Decora Smart Switch Anywhere Companion, a wire-free wall-mounted controller, but otherwise it has only a single outlet and not enough features for the price.

Lutron Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug: This model requires the Lutron Smart Bridge for remote operation and has only one outlet. While it is sturdy and operates as it should, it doesn’t have all of the same features as our outdoor pick and costs quite a bit more.

Meross Smart Wi-Fi Indoor/Outdoor Plug MSS630: This model’s IP44 rating is the lowest necessary to qualify for outdoor use, and its operating temperature range makes it unsuitable for cold winters.

Monoprice Stitch Outdoor 2-Outlet Smart Plug 44475: This outdoor smart plug’s features are highly limited, and we encountered bizarre app issues during testing, such as the plug showing as “on” or “off” in the Stitch and Alexa apps when the opposite was true.

RCA Smart Outdoor Plug: In our tests, we found that this RCA model had a strange pairing process with Alexa and Google Home. You have better options if you’re looking for an uncomplicated model.

Eve Energy Strip: With this model offering only three outlets and Apple Home compatibility, we had a hard time swallowing its price tag. Also, its energy-monitoring feature applies to the entire unit, rather than to each individual outlet.

Geeni Surge: Unlike our current power strip pick, the Geeni Surge doesn’t have physical buttons for its six outlets. It doesn’t include energy monitoring or USB ports, either.

We plan to test the following smart plugs and will update this guide with our results:

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.

Advertisement

Kathryn Rath

I’m a writer based in New York whose coverage areas include audio and video gear such as headphones, speakers, TVs, and projectors. I also cover smart devices for the home.

by Rachel Cericola

A smart dimmer works like a regular switch but makes it easy to put lights on a schedule, automate them with other devices, and control them remotely.

by Rachel Cericola

Voice-controlled smart speakers make it easy to summon music news, trivia, timers, and more, and to control smart devices, too.

by Rachel Cericola

Smart lighting is easy. Picking out the best smart lighting for your needs isn’t. We show you when it’s best to choose smart bulbs, plugs, or in-wall switches.

by Grant Clauser

These smart-home devices don’t need permanent installation, so you can take them with you when you move.

Advertisement